Well packer reinforcing



Jan.22,1957 J.LYNEs WELL PACKER REINFORCING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 19, 1944 AVH JOHN LYNEs SVI/UWM Jan. 22, 1957 J. LYNES 2,778,431

WELL -PACKER REINFORCING Original Filed Oct. 19, 1944 4 sheets-Sheet 2 If/ ////M @55 f w22 '-15 4 69 6&- 4

JOHN LYNES [Nl EN TOR.

BY WMM Jam. 22, 1957 J. I YNES 2,778,431

. WELL PACKER REINFORCING Original Filed OCL. 19, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 .IN V EN TOR.

United States 2,778,431 WELL PACKER RErNF'oRClNG John Lynes, Albuquerque, N. Mex., assignor to Lynes, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Original application October 19, 1944, Serial No. 559.338, 110W Patent N 2,630,864, dated March 10, 1953. Divided and this application January 21, 1953, Serial No. 332,335

s Claims. (ci. 16e- 137) The invention relates to a packer for a well tool.

This application is a division of my prior co-pending patent application Serial 559,338, filed October 19, 1944, now issued as Patent 2,630,864 on March 10, 1953, for Well Formation Tool.

Tt is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a well tool which can be set at any desired elevation in the well bore so as to provide a seal in the well bore while opening the tool to a formation below the seal thus formed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a hydraulically inflatable packer for wells which will withstand tremendous pressuredue to the particular arrangement of the reinforcing material in the packer sleeve.

Still another obiect of the invention is to provide a packer reinforcing assembly/wherein reinforcing strands are Woven in a helical path to permit radial expansion and longitudinalA contraction of the packer under pressure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a high pressure hydraulic packer wherein a single reinforcing strand of material is woven back and forth in a helical path from end to end of the packer.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide a reinforcing assembly for hydraulic packers wherein reinforcing strands are anchored at the ends of the packer and imbedded in resilient material so as to reinforce the material against the pressure encountered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of laminated layers of reinforcing strands Where each layer constitutes a single strand for the reinforcing of a packer construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an anchoring means on packer heads in order to retain the reinforcing 'strands utilized in the manufacture of a hydraulic packer.

Other and further objects ofthe invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the tool being lowered into a well bore yand about to be manipulated so as to set it in sealing position.

Fig. 2 is a section of the tool of Fig. l where the seal has been set by manipulation of the tool in engagement with the Well bottom.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a tool arranged fo-r setting in the well bore where two spaced packers are arranged f ice ancho-ring the reinforcing strands in the ends of the packer.

Fig. 9 shows a sectional viewV of one of the anchor rings.

Fig. l0 is a partial side elevation during construction of an alternate embodiment of the packer reinforcing showing the arrangement for passing a single strand of reinforcing material from end to end o-f the packer in making yup a layer of reinforcing material.

v1l is a section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. l0 showing a layer of reinforcing in place.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view of a complete assembly of the whole tool, showing the construction of the packer, and showing the plurality of laminated layers of reinforcing material enclosed in the packer sleeve.

ln Fig. l the well bore 2 has been drilled and during the drilling operation, the flushing fluid or drilling mud 3 is present in the well.

A formation 4 has been penetrated and it is desired that some operation` be performed in'connection with this formation 4. .Such an operation may be (l) the taking of a sample of uid from such .formation 4, (2) the treating of the formation 4 for the purpose of introducing acid or other chemicals to dissolve or treat the formation, (3) the cementingor squeezing of cement into the formation 4 to block off the formation, or (4) the performance of some other operation in connection with this formation 4.

In view o-f the fact that the column of mud 3 in the well usually creates a predominate pressure upon the face o-f the well bore such as the exposed area 5 of the formation 4, it is desirable to seal off this well bore so as to eliminate such pressure upon they formation`4.

To accomplish the dual purpose of performing the operation on the formation and the sealing of the formation during such operation, afwell tool 7 has been .lowered into the well. This tool is usually manipulated by means of an operating pipe 8 which carries a piston or plunger 9 threaded at 1l) to the lower end thereof. This piston or plunger is arranged for sliding movement in the pipe 12 which is hollow and thus forms a chamber 13.

To retain the pipe 12 about the plunger 9, a gland 14 is threaded into the upper end of the pipe 12. f

The load of the tool 7 is thus supported upon the shoulder 15, forming the upper end of the plunger 9.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l the tool is lowered into the well bore with a view of forming a seal with the wall 2 of the well bore.

The structure ofthe tool 7 to accomplish this seal includes the coupling 17 threaded at 18 into the lower end of the pipe 12 and this coupling serves as the upper end of the packer assembly Ztl which assembly is made up of the mandrel 21 threaded at 22 inside of the coupling 17. The foregoing parts cooperate to make up the body of the tool. Around this mandrel is arranged an internal sealing liner 22 anchored vat 23 inside of the coupling 17. liner is arranged to be forced against the packer head 24.1 which is threaded at 25 into the :skirt portion 26 of the coupling 17 in such a manner that it will form a support for the upper end 27 of the packing sleeve 28. A retainer 'ring 29 contines the resilient packing sleeve 28 when pressure fluid is applied to cause its ination. Such pressure fluid may pass from the chamber 13 through the passage 31 and into the mandrel 21 and outwardlythrou'gh the mandrel openings 30 into the liner 22. The chamber 13 in turn has the openings 33 and 34 so as lto allow an inflow and an outflow of fluid. When, however, the tool 7 is held stationary and the pipe 8 is lowered as soon as the plunger 9 passes the opening 34, 'any iluid in the chamber 13 will be trapped therein and forced throughl arsenal 3 the passage 31 and out through the openings 30 and into the sleeve 22 to effect ination of the packer as best seen in Fig. 2. In this manner the outer periphery 35 of the packing sleeve forms a seal as at 36 with the wall of the well bore.

The lower end of the packer is closed by a slide valve nipple 37, which carries the packer head 3S and serves as a. support for the lower end of the packer sleeve 28 and innerliner 22. Suitable packing rings 39 form a seal with the periphery of the mandrel 2 so there can be no leakage thereby.

Extending through the nipple 37 is a flow connection 40 which is connected to the lower end of the mandrel 21 in'such a manner that, when the pressure is applied to inate the packer, the nipple 37 will slide upwardly to the position of Fig. 2. The flow ports 42 will thus be uncovered due to the axial contraction of the packer, which causes the raising of the nipple 37. The tlow port 42 leads into a passage 43 which has the flow tube i4 connected thereto. This iiow tube passes through an opening 45 in the plunger 9 and into the chamber d6 inside of the operating pipe 8, where the check valve 47 is disposed thereon and arranged to prevent any back iiow.

Such a check valve is used when the formation 4 is to be tested and a uid sample obtained, because the upward dow of such iiuid sample will lift the valve 47 and trap a sample of the uid in the chamber 46 of the operating pipe 8. On the other hnad, if pressure were being applied to the formation d, then of course the check valve 47 would be reversed to prevent any back ow into the operating pipe from the formation where the pressure was being applied.

The purpose of the cup S is to temporarily hold the tool at a desired elevation until the pipe S can be manipulated to force huid into the packer to form a seal with the packer. The detail structure of this positioning cup is best seen in Figs. and 7 and includes a coupling 52 threaded at 53 to the lower end 54 of the ow connection 40. This coupling has a stem 55 of reduced diameter extending therebelow and provides a shoulder 56 on which a plate 57 is arranged to abut. This plate S7 serves as a support for the positioning cup 58 which ts around the stem 55 and has a resilient lip 59 thereon. it is intended that this lip 59 may be moved outwardly so as to engage the face of the well bore as at 60 in Fig. 7. A plug 62 having a tapered face 63 is shown in Fig. 5 as being fitted inside of the inverted cup 58. Arranged around the stem 5S is a latch collar 65, having an opening d6 therein to slide on the stem 55. This collar has the notches e7 arranged to receive the latch pins 68 which are normally urged outwardly by a spring 69, these pins being pivoted at 70 in the cross slot 71 in the lower end of the stem. Normally the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, but when the tool is lowered so that the bottom 72 of the collar 65 abuts an obstruction 73, such as the bottom of the well, the stem 55 will slide downwardly due to kthe resilient nature of the cup 58 and the plug 62 so as to force the parts to the position of Fig. 7. This downward movement of the stem 55 shears a retainer pin '74 which normally prevents such action and as the movement is completed, the latch arms e8 will snap into the notches 67 and prevent return of the parts to the collapsed position. Further movement of the operating pipe now causes the plunger 9 to move down into the chamber 13 and inate the packer.

-The desired operation can now be performed because the ports 42 will have been opened as seen in Fig. 2. This positioning cup is of particular advantage where the tool is to be used a number of times on one run into the well bore because after the positioning cup has been set as seen in Fig. 7, upward movement on the operating pipe will cause the lip 59 to slide along the surface 2 of the well bore so long as the tooi is being moved upwardly.

f When it is desired to take an additional test or to perliti forrn a second or third operation, a slight lowering movement by the operating pipe 8 will cause the lips 59 of the cup to grip against the wall of the well and stop the downward movement of the lower portion of the tool. In this manner the plunger 9 will force liquid into the packer to form a seal so that this positioning cup serves as an initial anchoring device to permit the setting of the packer.

It seems obvious that if a sampling operation is being performed, that the sample can be withdrawn from the operating pipe 3 by a swab or in'any desired manner and if a treating operation .is being performed, of course the ports l2 will be covered every time the pipe 8 is raised to relieve the pressure on the inside of the packer, which permits the packer to automatically collapse due to its inherent resiliency.

Fig. 3 shows the same arrangement as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, except that there is an additional packer 75 so that the formation 4 intermediate the packers may be isolated and as seen in Fig. 4, the ow ports 42 may be uncovered by movement of the nipple 37 as previously described.

The ow connection 40 will have the passages 78 therein to permit actuating liquid from the chamber 13 to move in to intlate the lower packer 7S.

One of the important features of the present invention is the construction of the inflatable packer. While the packer has merely been shown diagrammatically in Figs. l to 3 inclusive, it is of course well understood that a packer to withstand the tremendous pressures encountered in a well bore must be constructed of materials and in such a manner as to withstand pressures approximating 10,000 and 15,000 pounds per square inch. This is true because for instance in a 10,000 foot well using a drilling mud having a specific gravity of two, just roughly the Astatic pressure due to such a column of mud would approximate more than 10,000 pounds per square inch near the bottom of the well.

If the tool were set as shown at Fig. 2, when the ow ports 42 were open and the pressure fluid in the well bore below the packer released into the operating pipe 8, the pressure in the bore below the packer might drop to just a few hundred pounds per square inch, whereas, on the expanded packer directly thereabove, the weight of the long column of mud in the well bore would have to be supported, It seems clear therefore, that there might be a differential pressure across the packer approximating 10,000 lbs. per square inch.

One form of construction of such packer is shown in my patent 2,611,437 issued on September 23, 1952.

Figs. S to 12 inclusive herewith show two of the forms of packer construction which will withstand very high pressures. In Fig. 8 an enlarged detail view of one of the ends of a packer is shown. This is somewhat different than the diagrammatic illustration of the end of the packer shown in Figs. l and. 2 and is made up of a packer head 80, threaded at 31 externally to receive the pipe 12 at its upper end and is enlarged at 82 to form a seat for the end of such pipe. This head is internally cut away to provide grooves 83 which receive the ribs 84 of the inner liner 8S, which is the same as the liner 22 of Fig. 1 but shown more in detail. This liner as shown is arranged to abut the inner-periphery 86 of the head 80 so as to form a seal therewith when the packer is inated. The

' head 80 is provided with an annular skirt 87 of reduced diameter which is arranged to receive a plurality of anchor rings 88, whereby the reinforcing wires or strands 89, are anchored in position. These anchor wires are made up in bands such as seen in the center of Fig. 8, each band being made up of some ten or twelve wires, which wires, cables or strands more or less adhere together and can be applied as a unit. The anchor rings 88 are of a size so that these strands 89 may be passed therebeneath and curved over the upper edge as at 91, so as to form a single anchor to prevent the strands from being pulled loose.

` There are four layers of these strands shown in Fig. 8 and each layer is held in place by its anchor ring S8.

vThese anchor rings have inclined steps or shoulders 92 thereon. Each is arranged to receive a band of strands. The strands are carried in a helical path around the packer so that when the packer` is inflated, it will contract longitudinally and expand radially due to the helical path of these strands or wires.

In order to further anchor these strands or wires, a retainer collar 94 is shown as having been passed over the outer layer 95 of the Wires. The anchor rings may be held against sliding movement of the skirt S7 by means of the locking collar 96 which is preferably Welded at 97 in place to securely support the rings. 'The retainer collar 94 is the same element as the retainer 29 of Fig. 1, but is shown enlarged for purposes of description.

The resilient sleeve or covering material 98 is shown as having been vulcanized in position to enclose these strands or wires of the reinforcing material so that a packer presents a streamlined appearance where the resilient material is of the same diameter as the head 80 as l indicated at 99. As shown in Fig. 8, the covering 98 encloses the strands above, below and underneath collar 94.

One of the anchor rings 88 showing the stepped shoulders 92 thereon is best seen in Fig. 9.

Packers generally constructed in accordance with the structure just described have been actually inflated to kpressures approximating 10,000 pounds per square inch A,without damage.

Figs. and 11 show partially formed and more in I detail an alternate arrangement for the reinforcing of the packer. In Fig. 10 the upper head portion 100 and the lower head portion 101 are spaced apart and a layer of covering material 98 is shown as extending between them.

This layer is of course of resilient material. It should be noted that the head portions 100 and 101 of Fig. 10 correspond to skirt 87 in Fig. 8. The remainder of the heads not shown in Fig. 10, is similar to the head 80 of Fig. 8.

In order to anchor the reinforcing strands in an efficient manner, each of the heads 100 and 101 have been provided with a plurality of buttons or lugs 103. These are shown as arranged in circular rows 104 extending around the head. Four rows have been shown so that it is possible to anchor four layers of the reinforcing strand 10S.

Fig. l0 shows an inner layer of material 98 in the rst step of constructing a reinforcing for the packer. Fig. 10 shows that each layer of the reinforcing material is made up of a single strand or cable 105. This cable or strand is applied by anchoring the end 106 to one of the buttons 103 and then weaving the strand from the upper head portion 100 in one revolution7 following a helical path around the layer 98 and passing it over the button 107 on the lower head portion 101. The strand is then returned and passed around the next adjacent button 108 on the upper head portion and thence back and forth from button to button and head to head until a complete layer of reinforcing is provided by looping the strand around each one of the buttons of the row. Fig. 10 shows the layer as partially formed. The anchor rings 88 in Fig. 8 secure the reinforcing strands 89 in position on the skirt 87 of the heads 80 in the packer reinforcing construction shown in Fig. 8. Similarly, in the modification shown in Fig. 10 the buttons 103 arranged .in rows 104 on the head portion 100 and on head portion 101 secure the reinforcing strands 105 thereon. A layer of resilient material is wrapped on the outside of the strands 105 and then vulcanized to enclose the strands, as described with regard to the Fig. 8 modification.

A transverse sectional View of such complete assembly of the Whole tool is shown in Fig. l2, Where the inside pipe or mandrel 21 has the innerliner 22 thereagainst, then there is the resilient material 9S both on the inside and the outside of the four layers of reinforcing strands Fig. 10 modification so that it seems obvious that a rigid construction has been arranged for anchoring the reinforcing strands on the one hand while on the other hand the hand packer itself is resilient and very strongly reinforced. j

Broadly the present invention relates to a packer reinforcing construction to withstand tremendous pressures.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable packer reinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a' plurality of longitudinally extending strands in contiguous relation to each other and arranged so that adjacent strands are in overlapping relation and resilient material in which said strands are embedded, and lugs on each of said heads about which said strands are looped for securing said body to each of said heads.

2. An inflatable packer reinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending strands in contiguous relation to each other and arranged so that v'adjacent strands are in overlapping relation and resilient material in which said strands are embedded, and means on each of said heads engaging said strands for securing said body to each of said heads.

3. An inflatable packerreinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending strands in contiguous relation to each other and arranged so that adjacent strands are in overlapping relation and resilient material in which said strands are embedded, and anchor rings securing said strands to said heads.

4. An inflatable packer reinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending contiguous bands arranged so that adjacent bands are in overlapping relation, said bands including longitudinally extending contiguous strands, and resilient material in which said bands are embedded, and anchor rings securing said strands to said heads.

5. An iniiatable packer reinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending contiguous bands arranged so that adjacent bands are in overlapping relation, said bands including longitudinally extending contiguous strands, and resilient material in which said bands are embedded, yand means on each of said heads for securing the tubular body thereto.

6. An inflatable packer reinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending strands in contiguous relation to each other and arranged so that adjacent strands are in overlapping relation and resilient material in which said strands are embedded, and means cooperating with each of said heads for securing said body thereto.

7. An inflatable packer reinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending wires in contiguous relation to each other and arranged so that adjacent wires are in overlapping relation and resilient material in which said wires are embedded, and means cooperating with each of said heads for securing said body thereto.

8. An inflatable packer reinforcing assembly comprising, a pair of spaced heads, a tubular body, said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending contiguous bands arranged so that adjacent bands are in overlapping relation and resilient material in which said bands are embedded, and means cooperating with each of said heads for securing said body thereto.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Noe Aug. 22, 1865 Robinson et al Sept. 14, 1880 5 Spang May 8, 1906 3 Robinson July 13, 1909 Moser July 11, 1916 Freedlander Jan. 10, 1939 Lynes Sept. 23, 1952 Lynes Mar. 10, 1953 

